Google Mobile Search FAQs

About Google Mobile Search

1. What are Google Mobile products? Which ones are available on my mobile phone or device?
2. How can I learn when you launch new Google Mobile products?

Services offered

1. What information can I access using Google Mobile Search?
2. How does it work? Where are my queries going?
3. Can I use other Google products like Froogle and Groups on my mobile device?
4. Can I access my Gmail account?
5. Which mobile (wireless) providers support Google Mobile Search?
6. Is Google Mobile Search available in other languages?
7. What is SafeSearch? How do I turn it 'Off' or 'On'?

Using Google Mobile Search

1. Do I have a mobile Web browser? I can't find the mobile Web browser on my phone!
2. What's the difference between www.google.com/xhtml and www.google.com/wml? Do they offer different services?
3. How do I know which mobile Web format my phone supports?
4. You mention that I should press "Enter," but I don't have an "Enter" button.
5. How much does Google Mobile Search cost? Does it use up minutes on my voice plan?
6. I have a PDA and I don't want to be redirected to www.google.com/palm. How can I access Google on my PDA?

Entering a query

1. Do I have to type different queries than I would type on my PC? Can I still use Boolean expressions and other advanced search operators
2. How do I optimize my search queries?
3. My phone has predictive text entry; will it work when I'm entering a query?

Results

1. At the bottom of my results page you have several links, what do they do?
2. When I use Google on my computer I usually get targeted results first (for instance, Google News and Google Print results). Will I get those when I use Google on my phone or mobile device?
3. Where are the sponsored links?
4. Why does it take so long for my results to come back? This is so much slower than my computer.
5. Can I send the results to a friend?
6. What's the maximum number of results I can get for each query? How are the results sorted?
7. How come I don't get a link to "Cached" or "Similar pages?"

Troubleshooting

1. Google Mobile Search doesn't seem to work on my phone. What should I do?
2. I want to syndicate Google Mobile Search on my mobile website how do I learn more?

 

Google Local FAQs

1. How does Google Local work? Is it like Yellow Pages sites I've seen elsewhere?
2. Why is the phone number a hyperlink (i.e., underlined and in blue font)?
3. When I try to call the business using the highlighted number, nothing happens.
4. Can I save my location so I don't have to type it in every time?
5. Can I change the 'End Address' to get driving directions?
6. Does Google Local work everywhere? Can I find a noodle shop in Nagoya, Japan?
7. Why is a store 5 miles away ranked higher than one right next door to me?

 

Partner with Google FAQs

Partner with Google

1. How do I partner with Google Mobile?
2. What else is Google doing with mobile search?
3. Do you syndicate your other products such as News, Local, etc. for mobile devices?
4. What languages is Google Mobile Search available in?

Add Google Mobile Search to my mobile website

1. What are the differences among the markup languages? Do they support different products?
2. What markup language should I choose? Can I choose multiple markup languages?
3. What do you mean by Search Language?
4. What should I select as my Interface Language?
5. What is SafeSearch?
6. Can I apply "Strict Filtering" as my SafeSearch setting?
7. Can I co-brand your service?
8. Can I promote Google on my website?
9. Can I sign up multiple times if I have different sites?
10. Can I syndicate Google Mobile Search without Image Search? Or vice versa?

Add my mobile site to the Google Mobile index

1. What's a mobile site?
2. I have a website in HTML; how do I change the format to fit the mobile formats?
3. How can I make a WAP-compatible site?

Google Mobile Search FAQs

About Google Mobile Search

1. What are Google Mobile Search products? Which ones are available on my cell phone or mobile device?
   
   Google Mobile products are built specifically for cell phones and mobile devices, including Web Search, Image Search and Google SMS.
   
   For cell phones and PDA devices, Google offers Web Search, Image Search and Google SMS. You'll typically need to have a data plan for your device in order to use these services. Coverage may also differ depending on your carrier and phone. Please see your owner's manual to verify that your phone has a Web browser and/or can send and receive SMS messages.
   
   
2. How can I learn when you launch new Google Mobile products?
   
   Be one of the first to know when we launch a new Google Mobile product. Submit your email address to be one of the first to get updates on Google Mobile developments and to partake in future Google Mobile studies. It will not be shared with any third parties.
   
   

Services offered

1. What information can I access using Google Mobile Search?
   
   Well, using Google to search on your cell phone or mobile device gives you access to over 8 billion Web pages and 1.1 billion images, so wherever you are, pretty much all the Web's information is at your fingertips.
   
   
2. How does it work? Where are my queries going?
   
   Entering a query into the Google search box on your cell phone is exactly the same as entering a query into Google.com on your computer. Your query will go to Google and you'll get back the same set of search results.
   
   
3. Can I use other Google products like Froogle and Maps on my cell phone or mobile device?
   
   We now offer Google Local on mobile phones and devices. You can access Local by going straight to http://mobile.google.com/local, using the 'Local' option from our homepage (http://www.google.com/xhtml) or entering specialized queries with your keyword and location into the Google search box (for example, "pizza san jose, ca ").
   
   We also offer a mobile version of Froogle on Labs. On your mobile device, you can access Froogle at http://wml.froogle.com/. Search the web to compare product prices with Froogle. Froogle lets you search millions of products from stores across the web. Check prices on popular products for easy comparison shopping. These results are not advertisements, just current prices for products available online. Learn more at: http://labs.google.com/frooglewml.html. .
   
   
4. Can I access my Gmail account?
   
   Sorry, but Gmail is not available as a Google Mobile product at this time.
   
   
5. Which mobile (wireless) providers support Google Mobile Search?
   
   You can access www.google.com from any cell phone or mobile device that supports a Web browser. See your owner's manual to learn more about using your Web browser on your mobile device.
   
   
6. Does Google Mobile Search work in other languages?
   
   Yes, it does. Google Mobile Search is available in over 80 languages. A full list of available Interface Languages can be found at http://www.google.com/preferences
   
   If you want to change the Interface Language on your phone to get Google tips and messages in a different language, all you need to do is append your URL with '?hl=[two-letter language code].' This code can be added to xhtml, imode or wml.
   
   For example, if you want to change your Interface Language to French (fr), type www.google.com/wml ?hl=fr. Or for Klingon, type www.google.com/xhtml?hl=xx-klingon. To request a full list of language codes, email mobile-support@google.com.
   
   
7. What is SafeSearch? How do I turn it 'Off' or 'On'?
   
   Google's SafeSearch blocks web pages containing explicit sexual content from appearing in search results. For phones that support XHTML, you can turn SafeSearch 'on' or 'off' by clicking the 'Switch SafeSearch off/on' link, located under the search box. By clicking 'on' SafeSearch, moderate filtering will be applied to your search results.
   
   For mobile users with WML who want to apply SafeSearch or for users that wish to apply strict filtering, please email mobile-support@google.com for instructions. To learn more about SafeSearch visit http://www.google.com/help/customize.html#safe.

Using Google Mobile Search

1. Do I have a mobile Web browser? I can't find the mobile Web browser on my phone?
   
   Please reference your phone's user manual to see whether or not you have a mobile Web browser.
   
   
2. What's the difference between www.google.com/xhtml and www.google.com/wml? Do they offer different services?
   
   XHTML (WAP 2.0) areWML (1.2) and iMode are different formats for mobile websites. XHTML is what most phones sold in the last couple years support, and will enable you to view images and text on your phone along with iMode. WML is an older format that doesn't enable you to view images.
   
   With these formats, Google automatically translates regular Web pages into pages that your phone understands. But since these formats support different content, your Google Mobile experience will vary as follows:
   
   With XHTML you can conduct both Google Web Search and Image Search.
   
   With WML, you can only conduct Google Web Search. But WML does enable you to apply our Google Number Search (GNS) feature.
   
   
3. How do I know which mobile Web format my phone supports?
   
   Try typing in www.google.com into your phone; the browser should detect which format your phone supports. If this doesn't work try www.google.com/xhtml and then www.google.com/wml. Between those URLs, you should find a format that your phone or mobile device supports.
   
   
4. You mention that I should press "Enter" but I don't have an "Enter" button?
   
   Since phone keypads vary widely, please reference your phone's user manual to see the location and functions of your phone's keys.
   
   
5. How much does Google Mobile Search cost? Does using my mobile web browser use up voice minutes on my carrier plan?
   
   It's always free to use Google's search engine. However, the regular charges from your carrier for visiting websites or using data services such as browsing the internet or sending text messages on your phone may apply. Please contact your service provider for more information.
   
   Using your mobile Web browser typically won't use up minutes on your calling plan, but you'll need a data plan in order to use a Web browser on your phone. Check with your carrier for specific pricing details.
   
   
6. I have a PDA and I don't want to be redirected to www.google.com/palm. How can I access Google on my PDA ?
   
   If you want to leave the Google Palm interface, please try one of the following:
   
   • Click on the 'Full Google' link that appears on the Google Palm home page.
   • Go directly to http://www.google.com/Webhp?hl=en

Entering a query

1. Do I have to type different queries than what I would type on my PC? Can I use Boolean expressions and other advanced search operators?
   
   Besides being on a smaller screen, using Google on your cell phone is same as using your computer. If your phone supports XHTML you'll be able to choose between Web Search or Image Search, but the results for either will be the same as the results you'd get on doing the same search on your computer.
   
   Go wild with advanced searches; you'll get the results as you do on your PC. Visit http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/refinesearch.html for advanced search tips.
   
   
2. How do I optimize my search queries ?
   
   Try out our Google Help Center at http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/index.html.
   
   
3. My phone has predictive text entry will it work when I'm entering a query?
   
   With predictive text entry, you can enter text by pressing only one key per letter to minimize the number of key strokes. And yes, if your cell phone supports predictive text, you should be able to access its capabilities while using your Web browser. See your owner's manual for more information regarding predictive text entry.
   
   

Results

1. At the bottom of my results page you have several links, what are they?
   
   The links at the bottom of your results page will help you navigate through your search results and selected Web pages. "1 / 3", "2/3" and "3/3" identify what page you are accessing compared to the total number of pages available. Select the "More" link to access the next page. "Links on This Page" means that there are links to other sites or pages. Highlighting and selecting "Results Page" will bring you back to the results page. And finally, if you want to return to the Google homepage select the "Google Search."
   
   
2. When I use Google on my computer I usually get targeted results before my results; for instance, Google Desktop, Google News and Google Print results. Will I get those when I use Google on my cell phone?
   
   For Web browsers that support XHTML, we offer targeted results for specific features like Local, definition and spell correction. Other results, such as News, Desktop Search, and Print, haven't been incorporated into search results for mobile devices (for WML, we don't offer these targeted results).
   
   
3. Where are the sponsored links?
   
   Search results on your cell phone don't show sponsored links.
   
   
4. Why does it take so long for my results to come back? This is so much slower than my computer.
   
   We've done our best to minimize the download time for recovering search results, but for now, cell phone technology provides limited download speeds, so you'll have to be patient.
   
   
5. Can I send the results to a friend?
   
   No, you can't send cell phone search results to a friend.
   
   
6. What's the maximum number of results I can get for each query? How are the results sorted?
   
   We offer 10 search results for each mobile device "page view" for Web Search, and 3 results for each mobile device page view for Image Search. Just like when search on your computer with Google, you'll receive the most relevant search results first. The total number of results for your query will depend on how many relevant results we find in our index.
   
   
7. How come I don't get a link to "Cached" or "Similar pages"
   
   We're currently working to incorporate more advanced features into Google Mobile Search on cell phones and other mobile devices, so stay tuned.
   
   

Troubleshooting

1. Google doesn't seem to work on my phone. What should I do? How do I report a problem?
   
   Since your mobile phone may have limited download speed, your cell phone may have "timed out" while you were downloading your search results. In that case, you may want to try your query again. If you continue to have problems, please email us at mobile-support@google.com and let us know what's happening
   
   If you're having a problem that's not addressed by this FAQ section, please email us at mobile-support@google.com.
   
   
2. I want to syndicate Google Mobile Search on my mobile website how do I learn more?
   
   Learn more about partnering with Google Mobile at http://mobile.google.com/partner.html

Google Local FAQs

1. How does Google Local work? Is it like Yellow Pages sites I've seen elsewhere?
   
   Google Local takes a new approach to helping users find local information. We analyze our index of more than 8 billion web pages and combine that information with Yellow Pages™ data to provide the most comprehensive local search experience available.
   
   When you do a search on Google Local, your search results pages will list all the relevant businesses we found. If you click on the title of any business, you'll go to a page showing you that business's contact info, including address and phone number and a local map.
   
   
2. Why is the phone number a hyperlink (i.e., underlined and in blue font)?
   
   We've added a new feature to Google Local for mobile devices: now you can call a selected business by clicking on the highlighted business' phone number. Please note that this is only supported by some cell phones. Check your owner's manual for more information.
   
   
3. When I try to call the business using the highlighted number, nothing happens.
   
   At this time, not all phones support this feature. Please reference your owner's manual for more details.
   
   
4. Can I save my location so I don't have to type it in every time?
   
   If you navigate to 'Driving Directions' after selecting a business, we'll automatically fill in the 'End Address;' however, since people using cell phones tend to be move around a lot, we don't save your 'Start Location,' and you'll have to fill that in.
   
   
5. Can I change the 'End Address' to get driving directions?
   
   Sure you can. We fill in the 'End Address' for you in order to be helpful, but you can go ahead and change both the 'End Address' and 'Start Address' however you want.
   
   
6. Does Google Local work everywhere?
   
   Sorry – for now, Google Local only searches for locations in the United States and Canada. We plan on expanding this service to other parts of the world once we work out the kinks in this beta product.
   
   
7. Why is a store 5 miles away ranked higher than one right next door to me?
   
   As with all other Google search results, Google Local ranks listings based on their relevance to the search terms you've entered, and geographic distance isn't the only factor we consider. Sometimes our search technology will decide that a business that's farther away is more likely to have what you're looking for than a business that's closer.

Partner with Google FAQs

Partner with Google

1. How do I partner with Google Mobile?
   
   We syndicate our search products to mobile websites. Depending on what markup language your site supports, we offer Google Web Search and Image Search. You can learn more and sign up here.
   
   If you're interested in adding your mobile website to our mobile index, you can sign up here.
   
   
2. What else is Google doing with mobile search?
   
   Be one of the first to know when we launch a new Google Mobile product. Submit your email address to be one of the first to get updates on Google Mobile developments and to partake in future Google Mobile studies. It will not be shared with any third parties.
   
   
3. Do you syndicate your other products such as News, Froogle, etc, for mobile?
   
   For now, we're only syndicating Web Search and Image Search for cell phones and mobile devices. If you are interested in syndicating Google Local, please contact mobile-sales@google.com
   
   
4. What languages are your services available in?
   
   We support over 90 interface languages, please go to http://www.google.com/preferences to see our full list of languages.
   
   

Add Google Mobile Search to my mobile website

1. What are the differences among the markup languages? Do they support different products?
   
   XHTML (WAP 2.0), WML (1.2) and iMode (chtml) are three different formats for mobile websites. . WML is an older format that doesn't enable you to view images.
   
   With all three formats, Google automatically translates regular Web pages into pages that your phone understands. But since these formats support different content, your Google Mobile experience will vary as follows:
   
   With XHTML and iMode you can conduct both Google Web Search and Image Search.
   
   With WML, you can only conduct Google Web Search. But WML does enable you to apply our Google Number Search (GNS) feature.
   
2. What should I choose as my markup language? Can I choose more than one markup language?
   
   Most handsets sold today support XHTML however in Japan most handsets support iMode. Which format you choose to support depends on your user base. We encourage you to choose whatever format the rest of your site is provided in (i.e. XHTML, WML, or iMode).
   
   During the signup process, you'll have the option of choosing more than one markup language.
   
3. What do you mean by Search Language?
   
   Our Search Language feature lets you search for web pages in the language that you choose. Because these searches only see part of the Web, we suggest selecting "None" as your default option. Specifying a language can be useful when you want to find content in a particular tongue.
   
   
4. What is the Interface Language?
   
   Our Interface Language feature lets you choose which language you want Google tips and messages to be displayed in.
   
   
5. What is SafeSearch?
   
   Many users prefer not to have adult sites included in search results (especially if their kids use the same computer). Google's SafeSearch screens for sites that contain explicit sexual content and deletes them from your search results. No filter is 100% accurate, but SafeSearch should eliminate most inappropriate material.
   
   For your users, you can choose the default SafeSearch setting, however, users will have the option to turn SafeSearch 'on' or 'off.' If the user turns on SafeSearch, moderate filtering will be applied; otherwise, if SafeSearch is off, there will be no filtering.
   
   We do our best to keep SafeSearch as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible, but inappropriate sites will sometimes slip through the cracks. If you have SafeSearch activated and still find websites containing offensive content in your results, please email the URL of any offensive site to safesearch@google.com and we'll investigate it.
   
   
6. Can I apply “Strict Filtering” as my SafeSearch setting?
   
   Yes. In the Partner sign-up form, please specify that you would like to apply "Strict Filtering" as your SafeSearch setting in the "Notes" section.
   
   
7. Can I co-brand your service?
   
   No, sorry, you cannot.
   
   
8. Can I promote Google Search?
   
   You can learn everything you need to know about these issues by checking out our Google Permissions (http://www.google.com/permissions/index.html).
   
   
9. Can I sign up multiple times if I have different sites?
   
   Yes, you can; just follow the same procedure for each site.
   
   
10. Can I syndicate Google Mobile Search without Image Search? Or vice versa?
    
    No, we currently don't offer this; if you add Google to your site, your users will have the option of doing either regular Web Search or Image Search.
    
    

Add my mobile site to the Google Mobile index

1. What is a mobile site?
   
   A mobile website is a Web page or pages that have been specifically formatted in a specific format, such as XHTML, WML, and iMode, that is suitable to be viewed on a cell phone or other mobile device.
   
   
2. I have a website in HTML, how do I change the format to fit the mobile formats?
   
   You'll need to re-write your page in XHTML, WML or iMode. We do not have any step-by-step tutorials to convert your website but there are a number of websites and books that can probably help you.
   
   
3. How can I make a WAP-compatible site?
   
   Our system automatically translates regular pages into wap-compatible pages. In cases where a wap-compatible site already exists, we redirect the user to the wap-compatible site instead of translating the page ourselves.
   
   If you don't want to build a separate wap site, you can simply rely on our automatic translation system to convert your site on the fly. To see how your site will look after translation, go to http://www.google.com/wml and type in your URL. By tweaking your code a little, you can improve the way it looks on Google.